Rocker arm assembly for internal combustion engines



March 1, 1960 J. GUARRAIA ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jose h GoARRA/A ATTORNEY March 1, 1960 J. GUARRAIA ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l l 26 a I I I la mvawron JOSEPH GUARRA lA A 7' TORNE Y United States Patent ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Joseph Guarraia,yHawthorne, NJ.

Application June 15,1959, Serial No; 822,170

1 Clain 1.. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to a valverocker arm assembly;

for internal combustion engines, and comprises an improvement over the structure of my. co-pending applica tion entitled Rocker Arm for Internal Combustion En gines, Serial No. 750,116, filed July 22, 1958.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved rocker arm assembly characterized by means for substantially positively precluding the lateral disengagement of theend of the rocker arm from the top of has sometimes worked sufficiently loose to slide off the top of the valve stem duringoperation. Under these conditions damage to the valve stem assembly has invariably.

resulted, and in some instances the valve has fallen into the compression chamber of the'cylinder resulting in severe damage tothe cylinder head and piston assembly irequently to the extent of requiring a complete replacement.

n An important object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of means associated with either the valve stem or the rocker arm per se, which will positively preclude such slippage and disengagement.

In my above mentioned co-pending application, struc tureis provided which achieves certain of the above objects, but necessitates a specially manufactured rocker arm, at a consequent high production cost.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an adapter means which may be readily and inexpensively applied to the valve stems of any existing conventional internal combustion engine by any ordinary mechanic, without the necessity of rebuilding the rocker arm, or returning the cylinder head to the factory.

In a modified form of the instant invention, the rocker arm itself is modified to accomplish these objects, but with a minimum of necessary expense.

\Other objects of the invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially through the center line of one cylinder of the cylinder head of a conventional internal combustion engine, parts thereof being broken away," showing one form of adapter embodying elements of the instant invention as applied to the valve stem.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

2,926,645 Patented Mar. 1, 1960 ICE FigureB, is-aperspective. view of the adapter element per Figure 41isaview-similantofig. 3.; hut showinga modifi ed form of adapter element.

FigureSJis a view similar to Fig, 2 but; showing the adapter element of Fig. 4 in sectiontaken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. l butshowing a modifiedform of rocker arm constructed in accordance with the; instant invention.

:Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of Fig. 6 as viewed in the direction-indicated by; the arrows.

Figure 8 is a bottom planview; of; the. rocker arm of Fig. 6, and,

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing a modified form of rocker as shown in the, section of Fig. 7.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is, generally indicated at 10 a portion of the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine which includes a cylinder 11 in which is seated a conventional valve 12 to which is secured a valve stem 13 which extends upwardly through abushing 14 intoa space 15 above the cylinder head. A conventional exhaust passage 18 is, also provided which includes agasket 19 and is. secured to the head as by.

means of a bolt 20 having a head 21 and a lock nut 2-2.

Bushing 14. includes a flange 23 upon which is seated the, lower end of a valve. spring 25, the upperend of which isconfined by an upper valve retainer 26 including a conventional tapered internal split collar 27 which seats inter iorly of the retainer 26 and is provided with. an internal flange 28 adapted to seat in a groove 29 adjacent the upper end of thevalve stern 1-3,

A rocker arm stud 31 is force fitted into a. suitable bore 32in thetop ofa cylinder head, and includes at'its upper enda, tapered extremity 33, which is passed through an elongated slot. or; aperture 34 in a rocker arm generally indicated at 35. The. rocker armis comprised of ahollow shell which may bestamped or otherwise formedof sheet metal or the like and. has its lower surface arcuately concaved as at 35;: and 35bto, provide clearance for the associatedmechanism, and terminates in. end. pontions to be more fully described hereinafter. The rocker arm in eludes; a hemispherical downwardly concaved portion 350, surrounds, the upper tapered portion 33 of the stud 31, and which is adapted to contain a floating rocker ball 36, which is held in position by a self locking nut 37 which holds the rocker arm 35 in partial alignment, but which allows limited flexibility of play. One end of the rocker arm 38 extends over an aperture 39 in the cylinder head, through which projects a valve push rod 40, having a convexed upper extremity 41. The extremity 41 seats in an upwardly concaved countersunk recess 42 in one extending end 43 of the rocker arm 35. This countersink serves to prevent the disalignment or disengagement of the end 43 from the valve push rod. The other end 44 of the rocker arm extends directly over the end of valve stem 13, and in the conventional construction would seat directly on the end of the valve stem. However, in the instant invention the end of the valve stem has seated thereon a slightly compressible washer 50, which is preferably comprised of neoprene or polyethylene or some similar durable compressible material. Seated on top of the washer 50 is an adapter generally indicated at 51, which comprises a U-shaped member which is preferably of case hardened steel, including a base 52 having an opening 53 therein into which the upper extremity 13a of valve stem 13 extends so as to be substantially flush with the flat underside 44a of end 44 of rocker arm 35, when the washer 50 is very slightly compressed. The adapter 51 includes tapered side walls 54 which incline inwardly to conform to the inwardly tapering end walls 44b of rocker arm 35. By virtue of this arrangement it will be seen that the end 44 of the conventional rocker arm 35 is securely held against lateral displacement on the end of the valve stem 13, and that the washer 50 and its associated adapter 51 may be readily applied to a conventional valve stem with a minimum of effort and difiiculty, and at a minimum of expense.

The opposite end 41 of the rocker arm and its associated depression 42 are engaged by the conventional push rod 40, a lubricant opening 56 being provided in the depression 42, and the assembly is provided with the conventional casing or housing 55 overlying the assembly and provided with flanges 57 secured by screws 58 to the cylinder head.

Figures 4 and disclose a modified form of adapter which is adapted to seat directly on the upper valve spring retainer flange 26, although a washer may here be pro vided also if desired, similar to the washer 50. The retainer 60 of Figures 4 and 5 is substantially identical with the retainer 51, and includes a bottom plate 6 1 of case hardened steel and side flanges 62 adapted to surround the side walls 44b of rocker arm 35. However, in this modification, instead of a central opening 53 there is provided an upwardly extending concavity 63 which is adapted snugly to engage the upper end 13a of the valve stem 13. The use and operation of this form of the invention are substant ally identical to that previously discussed.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 disclose a modified form of construction wherein all of the operative parts are substantially identical to those previously described with the exception of the rocker armv70. The rocker arm 70 is adapted to be stamped or mplded at the factory, and includes a central slot 71 adapted to be engaged by the rock-- er balls 36 seated on the stud 31. An end portion 72" has a concavity 73 similar to that of the foregoing modification adapted to be engaged by the end of the push rod 40. The other end 74 of the rocker arm, however, includes a substantially flat underside 75 and an upwardly extending side wall 76 similar to the side walls 44b of the rocker arm 35. However, the underside of the rocker arm is provided with spaced laterally positioned, forwardly converging, depending flanges 77 which are adapted to extend downwardly on either side of end 13a of the valve stem 13 into close proximity with the top flange or collar 26a of the upper valve stem spring retainer 26.

serving the same purpose as the side walls 54 and 62 of the previously described adapters 51 and 60 respectively, and consequently 'when the rocker arm 70 is employed, the adapters may be omitted.

'Figure 9 discloses a cross-sectional view of a rocker arm 70a provided with side walls 76a and including flanges 77a substantially identical in configuration and function to the flanges 77. However, in this modification,

the flanges 77a are welded as by welding 78 to the underside of the rocker arm, thus obviating the necessity of providing special dies, for forming the rocker arms, as is necessary in the case of the rocker arms 70.

'From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved rocker arm assembly which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical util- I ity and commercial importance.

" rocker arm about its pivotal mounting to disengage said which theend of said valve stem is adapted to extend,.

In this modification the flanges 77 positively preclude lateral disalignment of the rocker arm with the valve stem,

end of said arm from said end of said valve stem, said means comprising an adapter formed of a single sheet metal stamping secured to said valve stem, said adapterbeing of substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration, having upwardly extended flanges on opposite sides of said rocker arm and tapered towards one end to conform to the configuration of said rocker arm, and a compressible washer positioned beneath said adapter, said adapter having an opening in the bight thereof through and a flange carried by said valve stem upon which said adapter seats, said Washer being of a thickness sufiicient to raise the top of the bight of said U-shaped adapter to a point substantially flush with the top of said valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,035 Leach July 12, 1955 1,573,962 Charnock Feb. 23, 1926 2,757,653 Links et al. Aug. 7, 1956' 

